I don’t stop panting until I’m safely back in my room with the door locked.
Later, I text Creed and let him know that I’d like to have our tutoring sessions in the library.
He sends me a picture in response that I very promptly delete.
And then spend hours looking up how to un-delete.
Ugh.The rest of March is a blur, my time split between the guys, Miranda and Andrew, classwork and orchestra. Zack and I are texting almost everyday now, while Lizzie and I send messages almost every hour. She’s actually going to the same getaway for spring break that I am, a musical intensive sponsored by the academy. It’s open to all schools, but the competition is fierce. When I was in eighth grade, I used to dream about being accepted. Now, it’s an automatic. If you’re signed up for orchestra, you’re signed up for the retreat if you want the spot.
Zayd is also going.
“At my old school,” I start, realizing as I say it that I sound exactly like Phoebe Terese from The Magic School Bus. “We used to ride buses to school-related events. You know, those big, yellow things with the seat-belt free seats?”
He rolls his eyes at me, and then scoops me up in his arms, carrying me over to the back of the white Cadillac Escalade that’s waiting with our luggage in the back. I can’t remember how many Burberry Prep kids are going, but not a lot. Most people want to spend their spring break somewhere warm and tropical.
Tristan is in Fiji with his dad while Miranda and Creed went home to Florida. Andrew is with his cousins in Texas, and Zack is back in Cruz Bay. He even texted to tell me that my dad had a bad day and didn’t make it to work, that he lost his job and that rent and electricity didn’t get paid. I offered to send some money from the account Tristan made me, but Zack said he’d already taken care of it.
Of course, then I felt guilty for not going home for spring break. But this music program, it could be life-changing for me.
“I know what a bus is, dumb dumb,” Zayd says, hoisting me into the center row and then crawling up beside me. “We filmed my last music video in one.” I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but wonder how and why Zayd is even here.
“You already have a music career,” I start as he glances over at me, “so what’s this about?”
“You’re never too good to learn from someone else,” Zayd says, shrugging his shoulders and then tapping out several rapid text messages on his phone. He pauses to look over at me, his mouth twisting in this totally self-assured little smile. “Besides, I knew you were going, and figured you’d want company.”
“Considering Harper and Becky will be there, most definitely.” My smile stretches wide, and Zayd reaches out to pinch my cheek with his inked fingers. I slap him away, but he just laughs, and then grabs my face between his hands, kissing me smack on the lips.
My cheeks burn with heat, but I sink back in my chair, curl my legs up underneath me and just watch him for the majority of the drive. There are other students in the back seat, and Mr. Carter in the front, but nobody bothers me or picks on me, not with Zayd sitting right there. I have plenty of time to myself to text Zack and Lizzie, to look at a picture Miranda just sent me of her and Creed sitting on the beach. He’s shirtless, his pale skin flawless and glowing under the hot sun. I bet he comes back with a tan … or a burn.
We wind our way south and east, toward this camp on the edge of a massive lake. It’s probably three or four times the size of the one back at the academy. When we crest the hill and I see it, my breath slips out in a gasp.
There are over a hundred students attending, each with a different passion or specialty. Since I’m on the harp, I get paired up with Becky (gag), and one other girl from Coventry Prep who says she knows Zack, and assigned a cabin on the opposite side of the lake from Lizzie and Zayd, both of whom are here to focus on the piano.
Zayd gives me a goodbye kiss on the cheek, and a pat on the ass before he takes off across the grass and I flip him off. Lizzie is waiting on the other side of the lake, and I can just barely see her as she waves to me. I wave back, but we won't be able to actually hang out until later this evening, at dinner.
That's okay though, because even though I'm stuck with Becky, I know I have allies here. Besides, it's better than being at home with Jennifer hovering around, and dad gazing at her like she's the love of his life. Anyway, the harp is one of my passions, and I don't mind spending spring break getting better at it.
